Umbrella-shaped accommodating artificial ocular lens (AAOL) device

Abstract

An accommodating artificial ocular lens (AAOL) device including a lens optic portion connected to a pleated lens haptic portion to provide accommodation of vision of the eye.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed to an umbrella-shaped accommodating artificial ocular lens (AAOL) device. A preferred embodiment of the artificial accommodating ocular lens (AAOL) device according to the present invention is an accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) device for placement in the capsular bag to replace the natural crystalline lens to both correct vision and provide accommodation of vision of the eye. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The concept of removing and replacing the natural crystalline lens of the eye, for example, that has become opaque (cataract) with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant in the capsular bag located in the eye has been around for many years. Typical intraocular lenses include three (3) piece intraocular lenses and accommodating designs having a lens optic portion supported by a pair of opposed loop haptic portions connected to the lens optic portion. Another version of intraocular lenses (IOLs) is the plate-type h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] The plate haptic portion is preferably a pleated web or web shaped lens plate haptic portion having a plurality of pleats or pleated webs, or otherwise pleated portions connected together by pleated web folds, preferably radial extending or somewhat laterally extending pleats and folds. The plate lens haptic portion can be a pleated web configured so as to have a uniform web or haptic thickness, or more preferably is pleated in a manner so as to increase the thickness of the lens haptic portion in a lateral or radial direction outward from the center of the lens device. Specifically, the lens haptic portion is connected around or about the perimeter of the lens optic portion in a mid center plane of the lens device so that the plane of the lens optic and lens haptic approximately coincide. The pleated web folds extend radially and extend outwardly of the mid center plane of the lens device at a predetermined angle to a perimeter of the lens haptic portion. The pleated web folds preferably extend from a position of connection with the lens optic portion to the outer perimeter of the lens haptic portion. The pleated web folds can be continuous, discontinuous, or vary in shape, size and direction. This novel artificial accommodating ocular lens (AAOL) device contains a binary functional haptic that is relatively rigid in the plane of the haptic to resist capsular collapse as compared to its significantly more sensitive axially flexibility to enhance optical accommodation movements.

[0020] The lens plate web haptic portion can have a varying thickness (e.g. thickens in an outward radial direction, thins in an outward radial or lateral direction), or alternatively, the lens plate haptic portion can be of a uniformed thickness or vary in thickness in a particular pattern (e.g. matrix, spiral, rings) to tailor or vary the flexibility of the lens plate haptic portion across or along the dimensions of the lens plate haptic portion.

[0021] The lens plate haptic portion is preferably a soft lens plate haptic portion that is highly restoratively flexible, but provides enough strength to position the lens optic portion correctly within the eye, in particular the capsular bag of the eye in a preferable accommodating location within the eye. Further, the lens plate haptic portion is substantially compliant so as to move back and forth with the tissue of the capsular bag, providing little if any resistance, while still correctly positioned within the capsular bag of the eye. Furthermore, the haptic material is rubbery and springy, and can be snappy like a surgeon's gloves so that it will return to its original position when movement forces are removed.

Problems solved by technology

Again, existing intraocular lenses tend to provide little if any accommodation of vision of the eye.

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